Big Gay Frat House Blogtag:typepad.com,2003:weblog-3708912012-10-15T16:38:18-07:00All about events and happenings at the Big Gay Frat House in San Francisco's oh-so-gay Castro District, as well as our various adventures out and about in San Francisco.TypePadUpdate: MUMC agrees to fly transgender flagtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341f874f53ef017d3cbbda15970c2012-10-15T16:38:18-07:002012-10-15T16:38:37-07:00A few days ago, I posted that the Merchants of Upper Market and Castro (MUMC) had refused a request to fly the trangender flag at half staff to commemorate the Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20th. MUMC wrote back...Kevin Goebel

A few days ago, I posted that the Merchants of Upper Market and Castro (MUMC) had refused a request to fly the trangender flag at half staff to commemorate the Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20th.

MUMC wrote back to explain that for safety reasons, flags can no longer be flown at half-staff, and that the Board would be voting on whether to fly the transgender flag at full staff. Sister Roma has now posted that the Board just voted to fly the flag at full staff and will be issuing a press release shortly.

MUMC refuses to change flag for Transgender Day of Remembrancetag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341f874f53ef017d3cb0ba0e970c2012-10-13T13:22:17-07:002012-10-15T16:27:54-07:00The glorious rainbow flag at the corner of Market and Castro, just outside the MUNI station, is always flown at full staff to recognize the strength and pride of the LGBT community. It is never changed or lowered -- except...Kevin Goebel

The glorious rainbow flag at the corner of Market and Castro, just outside the MUNI station, is always flown at full staff to recognize the strength and pride of the LGBT community. It is never changed or lowered -- except when it is. It's been lowered only five times since the flagpole was first erected fifteen years ago. But it is routinely changed to the International Leather flag for a week in late September for the Folsom Street Fair, and to the Bear flag in February to celebrate the bear culture.

But recently the Merchants of Upper Market and Castro have rejected a petition to fly the transgender flag on November 20th, the Transgender Day of Remembrance that commemorates transgender people who have lost their lives to hate and violence.

The following is my open letter to MUMC:

Dear Merchants of Upper Market and Castro (MUMC):

I read with much dismay about the decision of MUMC to reject flying the
transgender flag on November 20th, the Transgender Day of Remembrance:

I am frankly shocked and stunned by this decision. The transgender
community is a significant part of our our community – they are the T in LGBT,
after all. They are the most maligned and neglected members of our community,
the most ostracized even by other members of the LGBT community. Flying the
transgender flag on the Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day that commemorates
transgender people whose lives were lost to hate and violence, would be a
powerful gesture of inclusiveness for a marginalized group.

I recognize MUMC’s stated policy of flying the rainbow flag at full staff
to symbolize the strength and pride of the community. But that stated policy
belies MUMC’s own actions. The flag always flies at full staff – except when it
doesn’t. The rainbow pride flag is always flown – except when it’s switched for
the Leather or Bear flags. MUMC’s website says that the exception for the
International Leather flag is due to longstanding tradition. The flagpole itself
has only been there for 15 years, so I don’t know exactly how youwant to define
“longstanding.” And I know the flying of the Bear flag is a very recent
addition.

I enjoy seeing the Leather and Bear flags flown, but it is offensive to
cater to chosen cultural communities while denying it for the core identity for
some members of our community. Being gay or transgender are fundamental, core,
immutable parts of one’s identity. Being into the Leather or Bear cultures is
not. And it is offensive to deny it for one while allowing it for the
others.

In the past, I have defended MUMC’s decisions to people like Michael
Petrelis. I understand and accept the reluctance to yield to every request. The
flag should, in general, not be constantly changed or lowered for every whim.
And MUMC, which pays for the flag’s insurance and maintenance, needs to maintain
some measure of regularly adhered standards. But when the board chooses to deny
a single day for a core part of our community while allowing entire weeks for
lifestyle choices, I’m beginning to rethink my position.

I hope you will reconsider and fly the transgender flag on November
20th.

Regards,

Kevin Goebel, homeowner

[address redacted]

San Francisco, California 94114

Although the Leather Flag has been raised for many years, the inclusion of the Bear flag in February only began in 2011.

Oct 15 Update: Sister Roma has just posted that MUMC has voted to fly the transgender flag on November 20th.

New event: Sticky Wednesdays @ The Cafetag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341f874f53ef017ee4151a57970d2012-10-10T13:26:36-07:002012-10-10T13:47:52-07:00My friends Paul and Alex are launching a new Wednesday evening party at The Cafe in San Francisco's Castro District called Sticky. Where: The Cafe, 2369 Market Street, San Francisco Date: Every Wednesday starting October 10, 2012 Time: 8:00 p.m....Kevin Goebel

My friends Paul and Alex are launching a new Wednesday evening party at The Cafe in San Francisco's Castro District called Sticky.

Aside from featuring go-go boys (which is what brought me back to The Cafe several years ago) and being hosted by two friends of mine, I love that (a) the event starts early compared to other weekday venues, (b) it's being thrown by two Cafe staff members who love their bar and want it to succeed, and (c) the guys in the posters are real dancers at the event. So I'm rooting for them and will do my part to help make it a success.

Hope to see you there!

Broadway Bares XXII: Happy Endingstag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341f874f53ef016765c3bf15970b2012-04-26T17:02:25-07:002012-06-15T13:29:48-07:00Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS has announced the theme for this year's Broadway Bares, which will be held on June 17, 2012 in New York City, and I couldn't be more excited by the theme: Happy Endings! This year's show will...Kevin Goebel

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS has announced the theme for this year's Broadway Bares, which will be held on June 17, 2012 in New York City, and I couldn't be more excited by the theme: Happy Endings! This year's show will be a tribute to fairy tales, with Jack and the Beanstock, Puss in Boots, Goldilocks and the Three Bares Bears (think bears), and more.

For 22 years, chorus boys and girls have been stripping off their clothes in choreographed routines to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to provide AIDS services and healthcare for theatrical performers. It's a fantastic event (I was able to go to the 15th show back in 2005), and one that I sure wish we could replicate in San Francisco.

In the past, Broadway Beat has sold DVDs of past shows. Sales have been temporily suspended due to the sudden death of the site's owner, though the website says that sales will eventually resume. Still, it's unclear whether this year's show will be available on DVD, so if you have the means, I urge you to make it to NYC in June to catch this amazing fundraising event.

UPDATE: Broadway Beat's website now says that the sale of their videos will now be handled by Real Time Video Production. Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS confirmed to me through Twitter that Real Time Video Production will be producing and eventually selling a DVD of this year's Broadway Bares.

Here's a behind-the-scenes peek at some of the promotional work for this year's show:

And here are a few more promotional photos (update: several more publicity photos posted on Broadwat Bares' Facebook have been added):

SF's World Naked Bike Ride - TODAY!tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341f874f53ef0168e8a3bc7e970c2012-03-10T10:05:14-08:002012-03-10T10:05:14-08:00I know, I've been super delinquent in keep the blog updated. And there are so many fun things I need to catch you up on! But first things first: today is another World Naked Bike Ride in San Francisco! It's...Kevin Goebel

I know, I've been super delinquent in keep the blog updated. And there are so many fun things I need to catch you up on!

But first things first: today is another World Naked Bike Ride in San Francisco! It's one of two that The City participates in every year. This one is in solidarity with the Southern Hemisphere ride. Another one will be celebrated in June.

The ride seeks to draw attention the world's increasing depedence on fossil fuels. In cities all over the world, riders gather and shed as much clothing as they want (usually completely naked, but that's optional) and ride together naked through the City. Why naked? Well, for one thing, it's an attention grabber! People will pay a lot more attention to 100 naked riders than a hundred fully clothed ones.

To keep abreast of future rides in San Francisco, consider joinging the WNBR - SF page on Facebook. You can also check out my photos on Flickr, but be sure to turn SafeSearch off.

Streaker at MTV Europe Music Awardstag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341f874f53ef015392ec8cb5970b2011-11-09T13:55:01-08:002011-11-09T15:50:39-08:00In a stunt that would never, ever pass muster in the U.S., even on cable television, a streaker ran onstage at the MTV Europe Music Awards in Belfast, Northern Ireland, chatting with actress and awards presenter Hayden Panettiere ... completely...Kevin Goebel

In a stunt that would never, ever pass muster in the U.S., even on cable television, a streaker ran onstage at the MTV Europe Music Awards in Belfast, Northern Ireland, chatting with actress and awards presenter Hayden Panettiere ... completely naked and uncensored on European television.

Monahan says that MTV's producers approached him after hearing that the actor was willing to do nude scenes. In an interview with the Belfast Telegraph, he said:

"It was the writers who came up with the idea of having a streaker as part of a skit. They were looking for an actor, and because I'd talked about going for a casting for Game Of Thrones naked, my name was mentioned. I got a call from MTV on Saturday asking me to come over."

In the U.S., where thousands of people can be slaughtered on prime time television but a half-second flash of Janet Jackson's nipple results in fines of hundreds of thousands of dollars, MTV sadly would not be allowed to do a similar uncensored stunt on local television.

After the jump, check out a few censored and uncensored photos we've dug up as well as uncensored video footage. Let's hope American television can catch up someday.

And the uncensored video of the streaker at the MTV Europe Music Awards:

SF Boylesque returning to Trucktag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341f874f53ef015392363cfe970b2011-10-10T22:00:00-07:002011-10-11T08:35:57-07:00I've provided you with videos of SF Boylesque's Bohemian Brethren's last three performances at Truck (1900 Folsom Street, San Francisco), a gay bar in San Francisco's SOMA district. It's like a drag show with choreography and costumes, but instead of...Kevin Goebel

I've provided you with videos of SF Boylesque's Bohemian Brethren's lastthreeperformances at Truck(1900 Folsom Street, San Francisco), a gay bar in San Francisco's SOMA district. It's like a drag show with choreography and costumes, but instead of boys putting on make-up and wigs and gowns, they're taking the clothes off.

When I posted the last set of videos, they had not yet announced when their next performance would be ... but now they have.

Our very own Burelesque take on Classic Board Games. You've played some of the classics when you where a kid, but now we will show you how to bring Sass, Class, & Ass to this super fun and sexy night night at Truck!

You can bet that I'll be there and taking video once again. Come see the fun!

Strip Poker at Mirabartag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341f874f53ef014e8c29b3b2970d2011-10-10T17:15:00-07:002011-10-10T17:16:26-07:00This web-find is of a stripping game played at a Rhode Island gay bar called Mirabar. The contestants played some sort of game (it's hard to see, but it looks like they're rolling dice or something). The loser of each...Kevin Goebel

This web-find is of a stripping game played at a Rhode Island gay bar called Mirabar. The contestants played some sort of game (it's hard to see, but it looks like they're rolling dice or something). The loser of each round removes an article of clothing until one of the guys is left with just a teeny tiny towel to cover his bits.

San Francisco's gay nightlife has gotten somewhat tamer lately, it seems. Why can't we do games like that here anymore? In part, perhaps, because our ABChas gotten rather out of control on such issues (why should it matter in a bar with consenting adults and no children?). Perhaps Wet & Wild or one of the other events in SF could take on the challenge?

SF Boylesque's September show at Truck - Part 2tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341f874f53ef014e8bedff99970d2011-09-30T09:33:11-07:002011-09-30T09:33:11-07:00Here's the second part of SF Boylesque's September show at Truck. You can also check out part one. Brothers' Choice - Part 2 Chadd Behavior, Charley Gauxdoun Chadd Behavior, Charley Gauxdoun The Finale No word yet on whether or not...Kevin Goebel

No word yet on whether or not there will be an October show. We'll keep you posted!

SF Boylesque's September show at Truck - Part 1tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341f874f53ef015435cd8063970c2011-09-30T09:32:58-07:002011-09-30T09:37:28-07:00We've posted before about SF Boylesque's shows in July and August at Truck. At long last, I'm posting the videos of their September 15th show. Here's part one, and you can check out part two after. The Opening Number Enormvs...Kevin Goebel

We've posted before about SF Boylesque's shows in Julyand Augustat Truck. At long last, I'm posting the videos of their September 15th show. Here's part one, and you can check out part two after.

Risque for a cause where you least expect ittag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341f874f53ef015435bcd39c970c2011-09-27T14:33:26-07:002011-09-27T14:33:26-07:00I've blogged many times before about people getting naked or doing other risque antics for a good cause, whether it's doing car washes in tighty whiteys, the full monty strip shows the rugby boys used to do at their fundraisers,...Kevin Goebel

I've blogged many times before about people getting naked or doing other risque antics for a good cause, whether it's doing car washes in tighty whiteys, the full monty strip shows the rugby boys used to do at their fundraisers, riding bicycles naked to draw attention to global dependence on petroleum products, and the like.

But here's one in a place you might least expect it: Utah.

Organizers of the Utah Undie Run managed to get an estimated 3,000 men and women to run in their underwear (nudity was prohibited) in order "to protest what they called the 'uptight laws of Utah."

Naked Laptag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341f874f53ef015391a9eb57970b2011-09-16T16:30:12-07:002011-09-16T16:29:32-07:00I don't often do posts of "web finds," but every now and then I feel compelled. Here's one. I graduated from college over 20 years ago. We had our share of drinking games, but there seem to be a whole...Kevin Goebel

I don't often do posts of "web finds," but every now and then I feel compelled. Here's one.

I graduated from college over 20 years ago. We had our share of drinking games, but there seem to be a whole bunch that were invented after I graduated, like flip cup and beer pong (sometimes called, oddly enough, Beirut).

One of my favorite innovations (at least, my circle of friends never did this) is the "shut out" rule. In any game with a score, like beer pong, foosball, or air hockey, if a team loses without scoring a single point, they're shut out or skunked and are forced to accept a pre-agreed penalty. Sometimes they're standard house rules for the dorm, fraternity, or circle of friends. Sometimes they're agreed upon at the start of the game.

One of the most common shut out penalties appears to be the naked lap rule, where the team that's shut out must strip off all their clothes and streak around a pre-determined area completely naked. Sometimes it's through the house, with the requirement that they have to entire every room. Sometimes, in a dorm, it's down the common hallway to the elevator and back. Often it appears to be outside, where they have to streak around the outside perimeter of the house, dorm, or even block.

Of all the naked lap videos out there, this one's currently my favorite even though the guys don't show full frontal to the camera (which is why it's survived on Youtube). Of course, part of that is that the guys are really cute, though that's true of many of the other college guys who've posted videos of their naked forfeits. Second, and perhaps most importantly, the video camera's quality is very good and clear, with a minimal amount of shaking and bouncing around. Third, the guys get completely naked, head to toe, even barefoot. And when they do their run, they aren't carrying their underwear with them (as so many others do), so you know if they get caught they'll have nothing to cover up with. Fourth, though their backs are to the camera and we never get to see peen, they don't appear to be trying to cover up, so it's clear their friends got to see the full glory of their full monty. And finally, though the camera operator doesn't run after them outside (where it would have been too dark anyway), it's clear that they have to at least run around the entire building.

Have any of you readers ever been shut out and forced to do a naked lap?